Records Committee (BOURC)
23rd Report (July 1996)
The reports of the Records Committee contain additions, corrections and
modifications to the list of birds of Britain and Ireland maintained by the
Records Committee on behalf of the BOU. This report covers the period May
1995 to July 1996 and is the seventh to follow publication of the most
recent Checklist of Birds of Britain and Ireland (6th edition, March
1992). The previous report appeared in Ibis 137: 590-591. Records of
birds in Ireland are assessed by the Irish Rare Birds Committee and are
first published in Irish Birds. They are included in BOURC reports for
information. The Checklist is available from the BOU office and
specialist bookshops, price £4.95 (+ £1 p&p).
The following changes have been made to the British and Irish list:
Great Egret Egretta alba
Recent studies of herons (e.g. Payne & Risley, Misc. Publs Mus. Zool.
Univ. Michigan. No. 150; Sheldon, Auk 104: 97-108; Sibley &
Ahlquist, 1990, Phylogeny and Classification of Birds, Yale U. P.)
indicate that the Great Egret is closer to Ardea than Egretta,
although placement in the genus Casmerodius has also been suggested.
Pending further studies to resolve the latter option, the Great Egret is
moved from Egretta to become Ardea alba.
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Most Canada Geese that occur in Britain and Ireland result from
introductions and escapes over the last few hundred years. It has been
accepted, however, that some individuals or small groups occurring on
passage or in winter, particularly in the north and west, are likely to have
been of wild origin.
At the end of November 1992, a ringed and
neck-collared Canada Goose was seen in the company of an unringed bird near
Alford, Grampian. Both geese remained in the area until the marked bird and
two others were shot in January 1993 (see photograph in Shooting Times,
25 February-3 March 1993). The marked bird had been ringed as a second-year
male in Maryland, USA, on 10 February 1992. This is the first transatlantic
recovery of a Canada Goose which had been ringed in North America.
Most released and escaped Canada Geese in Britain
are attributed to the nominate race, although other forms have been released
or have escaped from time to time. The marked Alford bird was described as
being about the size of a Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus, and
therefore belonged to the group often referred to as the Lesser Canada
Goose. The taxonomy of the Canada Goose is subject to much debate and it
seems inappropriate at this time to attempt formally to assign the bird to
any particular race.
Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatus
Recent studies on the relationships of the sea ducks (e.g. Livezey, Condor
97: 233-255) indicate that the Hooded Merganser would be better removed from
the genus Mergus and placed in the monospecific genus Lophodytes.
The Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatus therefore becomes Lophodytes
cucullatus.
Smew Mergus albellus
Recent studies on the relationships of the sea ducks (e.g. Livezey, Condor
97: 233-255) indicate that the Smew would be better removed from the genus Mergus
and placed in the monospecific genus Mergellus. The Smew Mergus
albellus therefore becomes Mergellus albellus.
Red Kite Milvus milvus
Change category from A to dual A & C.
The re-introduction of Red Kites into southern
England and northern Scotland has been very successful. We are advised that
both populations have increased every year since 1992 when pairs established
from released birds bred for the first time. It is likely that this increase
will be sustained since survival and breeding productivity in England and
Scotland is as high or higher than the remnant self-maintaining population
in Wales. Red Kite is therefore added to Category C of the British &
Irish List in addition to its current position in Category A.
Sociable Lapwing Chettusia gregaria
White-tailed Lapwing C. leucura
Evidence from DNA hybridisation (Sibley & Ahlquist, 1990, Phylogeny
and Classification of Birds, Yale U. P.), morphology and behaviour (e.g.
Hayman et al., 1987, Shorebirds, Helm) indicate that Chettusia
should be merged with Vanellus. Accordingly, Sociable Lapwing becomes
Vanellus gregarius and White-tailed Lapwing becomes V. leucurus.
Great Skua Stercorarius skua
Following Furness (1987, The Skuas, Poyser) and others, the Great
Skua is moved from the genus Stercorarius to become Catharacta
skua.
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Add subspecies smithsonianus to Category A of British List.
Neumann's Flash, Cheshire, 24 February - 4 March 1994; sight record.
The race smithsonianus breeds in North
America from Alaska south to British Columbia and east across the continent
through the Great Lakes region to the Atlantic coast and south to South
Carolina. It has been recorded in Ireland, and was placed on the British
& Irish List on the basis of a bird in Cork, November-December 1986 (Ibis
134: 212).
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
There would appear to be no good reason to maintain Gelochelidon as a
separate genus and the Gull-billed Tern becomes Sterna nilotica.
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
Delete from Category B.
An extensive review revealed around 90 reports of this
species since 1684. Eagle Owl has been known in captivity in this country
since at least the 17th century. After careful consideration, the Committee
concluded unanimously that many of the descriptions (where available) were
not adequate to allow the unequivocal elimination of alternative species. Of
those where the identification as Eagle Owl was accepted by the Committee,
members were equally united in believing that the possibility of escapes,
releases and confusion over the provenance of skins could not be dismissed.
There is no evidence that this species has occurred in the wild state in
Britain and Ireland for over 200 years, and the species is therefore removed
from Category B of the British and Irish List.
Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens
Add to Category A of the British List.
Portland, Dorset, 2 May 1992; sight record.
This species breeds in south Europe, North Africa
and Central Asia. It is already on the British & Irish list on the
strength of a series of records from Ireland in the 1950s (Ibis
102:629). The present record is the first for Britain (Br. Birds. 88:
593-599).
Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii
Change to Category A of the British & Irish List.
Landguard, Suffolk 4-10 November 1994; trapped and photographed.
Blyth's Pipit breeds from southern Transbaikalia
and eastern Manchuria south to Tibet. It winters mainly in peninsular India
south to Sri Lanka. It is in Category B on the strength of a skin collected
in Sussex in 1882, and found in the Natural History Museum, Tring, by Ken
Williamson (Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 97: 60; Ibis 116: 578). The
1994 record results in Blyth's Pipit moving to Category A.
Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
Bicknell's Thrush C. bicknelli
Following the recommendations of Ouellet (Wilson Bull. 105: 545-572),
the Committee has accepted the split on taxonomic grounds of the mainly
Nearctic Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus into two species: a
restricted Grey-cheeked Thrush comprising the races minimus and aliciae
and the monotypic Bicknell's Thrush C. bicknelli. Nominate minimus
breeds in Newfoundland, southern Labrador and eastern Quebec, aliciae
breeds from Labrador across northern North America to Alaska and
north-eastern Siberia, and bicknelli nests in southern Quebec, the
Canadian Maritime Provinces and New England.
Aliciae and minimus are both larger
than bicknelli, but measurements overlap. The plumage of aliciae
is colder and greyer than the generally warmer and more rufous minimus.
In this respect, minimus approaches bicknelli. Although there
are further differences in the biometrics, vocalisations and bare-part
colours of Grey-cheeked and Bicknell's Thrushes, the identification of most
migrants in the field is not recommended at this stage.
The British records of 'Grey-cheeked Thrush' (in
the wide sense) have been reviewed, particularly those individuals which
died or were trapped. Four British specimens which were traced were compared
with skins at Tring and specimens on loan from the AMNH. All four are C.
minimus rather than C. bicknelli. Based on the limited material
available, birds from Lossiemouth, Grampian, 26 November 1965 (Harrison
Zoological Museum, Sevenoaks, No. HZM 1.4878), St Mary's, Isles of Scilly,
22 October 1986 (in the possession of Chris R. Janman) and probably the bird
from St Kilda, Western Isles, 29 October 1965 (Royal Museum of Scotland, No.
NMSZ 1965.59) seem closest to aliciae and a specimen from Bardsey,
Gwynedd, 20 October 1971 (National Museum of Wales, No. NMW Z.1995.014) may
be closer to minimus.
The only previously accepted record of bicknelli,
an untraced specimen from Bardsey, Gwynedd, on 10 October 1961, is no longer
considered to be acceptable and the form has been deleted from the British
and Irish list. There are no acceptable sight-records of bicknelli.
Further details may be found in Knox, Brit. Birds 89: 1-9.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Hume's Warbler P. humei (Brooks)
Recent works (e.g. Chrabryj et al., 1989, Atlas der Verbreitung
Palaearktischer Vögel, part 16; Glutz & Bauer, 1991, Handbuch
der Vögel Mitteleuropas, Band 12/II, Teil 3; Lewington et al., 1991, A
Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe; Svensson, 1992, Identification
Guide to European Passerines, 4th Ed; Birds of the Western Palearctic,
Vol. 6; Shirihai & Madge, Birding World 6: 439-443) have
clarified the characters and distribution of the form humei, which
differs in plumage and, more noticeably, song and calls from P. inornatus.
Although further information from possible areas of sympatry is desirable,
it seems appropriate to treat P. inornatus (monotypic) and P.
humei (including P. h. mandellii) as separate species.
Several individuals resembling nominate humei
have occurred in Britain, mainly on the east coast in October and November,
but also in the west and through to spring. Pending further clarification of
characters of appearance by which the species may reliably be separated in
the field, identification of birds in the field by sight alone is not
recommended: a combination of plumage, bare-part structure and colour and
vocalisations is desirable. There is at present no record that has been
formally accepted, although several from 1966 onwards are currently being
examined by BBRC.
The nominate race of Hume's Warbler breeds in
central Asia from the Sayan and Altai mountains south to the north-west
Himalayas and winters mainly in the Indian sub-continent from Pakistan to
Bangladesh.
Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler P. orientalis
Recent studies (Helbig et al., J. Avian Biol. 26: 139-153) have shown
that the western (nominate bonelli) and eastern (orientalis)
races of Bonelli's Warbler differ in their mtDNA by 8.3-8.6%. This is
greater than many pairs of species, and considerably more than between any
conspecific subspecies studied so far. Taken together with the significant
vocal differences between the taxa, this would indicate that the forms are
better treated as separate monotypic species, P. bonelli and P.
orientalis . Existing British and Irish records are attributable to P.
bonelli. There are no currently accepted records of P. orientalis
(but see below).
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor
Southern Grey Shrike L. meridionalis
Recent work (Panow, 1996, Die Würger der Paläarktis; Isenmann &
Bouchet, Alauda 61: 223-227 and 62: 138; see also Glutz & Bauer,
1993, Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas, Band 13/II, Teil 4; Lefranc,
1993, Les Pies-grièches d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et du Moyen-Orient;
Birds of the Western Palearctic Vol. 7; Lefranc, Ornithos 2:
107-109; Panov, Proc. Western Foundation of Vert. Zool. 6: 26-33),
has shown that the excubitor and meridionalis groups of races
are better treated as separate species, the Great Grey Shrike L.
excubitor and the Southern Grey Shrike L. meridionalis
respectively. Further research on the affinities and relationships of taxa
within L. meridionalis in particular are desirable.
The nominate race of the Great Grey Shrike occurs
regularly in Britain on passage and in winter. Southern Grey Shrikes of the
race L. meridionalis pallidirostris, known as the Steppe Shrike, have
also occurred as scarce visitors. The first was a bird trapped on Fair Isle,
Shetland, 22 September 1956 (Brit. Birds 50: 246-249), and one at the
same place on 17-18 October 1964 (Brit. Birds 66: 401-402) was the
first after 1958. The latter record establishes L. meridionalis in
Category A of the British & Irish List. Identification of the Great Grey
Shrike group of taxa was recently discussed by Lefranc (Ornithos 2:
110-123), and the identification of Steppe Shrike by Clement (Birding
World 8: 300-309).
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia
The three accepted records of a first-winter male from Gwynedd, August 1964,
a first-winter male from Shetland, November 1990 and a first-winter male
from Orkney in August 1992 have been ascribed to the race aestiva (Gmelin)
(Parkes, Birding World 5: 445; K. C. Parkes, in litt.).
Rufous-sided Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Rufous-sided Towhee was recently split by the AOU into two species, P.
erythrophthalmus and P. maculatus (Auk 112: 825-826). The
Committee accepts this recommendation. The single accepted record to date
was of a bird which belonged to P. erythrophthalmus (sensu stricto)
and there is therefore no change to the scientific name for the purposes of
the British and Irish List. However, the species should now be known as
Eastern Towhee.
Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis
Following the AOU (1983, Check-list of North American Birds, 6th
Ed.), the Savannah Sparrow becomes Passerculus sandwichensis. See
also Avise et al. (Syst. Zool. 29: 323-334).
Fox Sparrow Zonotrichia iliaca
Following the AOU (1983, Check-list of North American Birds, 6th
Ed.), the Fox Sparrow becomes Passerella iliaca. See also Zink (Auk
99: 632-649) and Zink & Blackwell (Auk 113: 59-67).
Song Sparrow Zonotrichia melodia
Following the AOU (1983, Check-list of North American Birds, 6th
Ed.), the Song Sparrow becomes Melospiza melodia. See also Zink (Auk
99: 632-649) and Zink & Blackwell (Auk 113: 59-67).
Northern Oriole Icterus galbula
Northern Oriole was recently split by the AOU into three species, I.
galbula, I. bullockii and I. abeillei (Auk 112:
827). The Committee accepts this recommendation. Only I. galbula (sensu
stricto) has so far been recorded in Britain and Ireland, and there is
therefore no change to the scientific name for the purposes of the British
and Irish List. However, this species should now be known as Baltimore
Oriole.
The following have also been considered:
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
The birds from Norway that have been released in north-west Scotland since
1975 are breeding successfully. However, a recent analysis (J. Appl.
Ecol. 33: 357-368) suggested that current productivity is very dependent
upon a few successful individuals, and is potentially unstable. It has been
decided to supplement the re-introduction with further birds from Norway.
Until the outcome of this is clear, it seems wisest not to admit the species
to Category C. White-tailed Eagle is, of course, already in Category A on
the strength of a series of vagrant individuals.
In the following five species, identification was accepted, but all were thought very likely to be
of captive origin and none is admitted to any category:
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis, Hampstead Heath, Greater
London, 14 October 1993.
- Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina, Crail, Fife, 3-4
October 1993.
- Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus, North Foreland, Kent, 15
May 1993.
- Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus, St Abbs, Borders, 10-21
May 1993.
- Yellow-billed Grosbeak Eophonia migratoria, Fair Isle,
Shetland, 18-26 November 1993.
With the addition of Southern Grey Shrike to Category A and the deletion
of Eagle Owl from category B, the number of species on The British
and Irish list remains at 550. It has been decided from this Report
onwards to publish the number of species in each category of the British
List in addition to a combined list for Britain and Ireland. The British
List currently stands at 544 as shown below. These totals do not include
'soft-plumaged' petrel Pterodroma mollis/P. madeira/P. feae,
as the birds were not identified to species level (Ibis 134: 180).
The species in Category D do not form part of the main list.
| |
Britain & Ireland |
Britain |
Category A: |
525 |
519 |
Category B: |
16 |
16 |
Category C: |
9 |
9 |
Category D: |
22 |
21 |
Total: |
550 |
544 |
The following species
have occurred in Ireland, but not in Britain:
Category A: American Coot Fulica
americana (British record under review by BBRC), Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus
griseus, Elegant Tern Sterna elegans, Grey Catbird Dumetella
carolinensis, Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca, Indigo Bunting Passerina
cyanea;
Category D2: Northern
Flicker Colaptes auratus.
Files under
consideration (with date of receipt from BBRC):
Little Shearwater
Puffinus assimilis elegans
Musselburgh, Lothian, 9 December 1990 (rec. October 1995).
Bufflehead Bucephala
albeola
Review of records following submission of evidence that the first British
record from Norfolk in 1830 may be unsafe (new BOURC file - July 1996).
Egyptian Vulture Neophron
percnopterus
Beaulieu Road Station, Hampshire, 16 June 1968 (rec. November 1994).
Accepted records from Bridgwater Bay, Somerset (October 1825) and Peldon,
Essex (September 1868) are also being assessed as part of the review of all
species currently in Category B. File in circulation.
Pallid Harrier Circus
macrourus
Tayside 1993. Species currently in Category B (rec. July 1995). File in
circulation.
South Polar Skua Catharacta
maccormicki
Specimen in Norwich Castle Museum, said to have been obtained at Yarmouth in
1869 (new BOURC file - March 1996). File in circulation.
Kumlien's Gull Larus
glaucoides kumlieni
Shetland, November 1869. Specimen in the Natural History Museum, Tring. This
predates the current earliest accepted record from Penzance, Cornwall, March
1979 (new BOURC file). File in circulation.
Little Tern Sterna
albifrons antillarum
Rye Harbour, E. Sussex, Many dates between 1983 and 1993. also Colne Point,
Essex, 29 June - 1 July 1991 (rec. July 1994).
The description and sonogram analysis indicate that
this bird was very similar to the North American race antillarum.
However, the possibility that it was of the little studied West African race
guineae could not be eliminated. A request has been made for
information relating to the vocalisations of guineae, and the record
will be reassessed when additional taxonomic data are available. The
Committee would support an application to the Union for funding to study guineae
in its breeding habitat.
Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais
pallida
Skokholm, Dyfed, 23 September - 3 October 1951 (rec. April 1995). File under
analysis.
Portland, Dorset, 16 August 1956 (rec. April 1995). File under analysis.
Isle of May, Fife, 24-26 September 1967 (rec. April 1995). File under
analysis.
Booted Warbler Hippolais
caligata rama
Lerwick, Shetland, 22 October - 9 November 1993 (rec. April 1995). File
under analysis.
Booted Warbler Hippolais
caligata annectens
Theddlethorpe Dunes, Lincolnshire, 12 October 1980 (rec. April 1995). File
under analysis.
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus
orientalis
Spurn, Yorkshire, 15 October 1970. Circulation complete: file returned to
BBRC.
St Mary's, Scilly, 30 September & 8-10 October 1987. Circulation
complete: file returned to BBRC. Whitley Bay, Northumberland, 20-29
September 1995 (rec. March ). File in circulation.
Chaffinch Fringilla
coelebs africana / spodiogenys
Fingringhoe, Essex, 9-25 April 1994. Circulation complete: file returned to
BBRC.
Black-faced Bunting
Emberiza spodocephala
Pennington Flash, Greater Manchester, 8 March - 24 April 1994 (rec. October
1994). Circulation completed with no overall majority; recirculation
underway with additional information.
Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica
castanea
Lands End, Cornwall, 1 October 1995 (rec. February 1996). File in
circulation.
Publications from
members of the BOU Records Committee relating to the British & Irish
list since the last Report (Ibis 137: 590-591).
- Dickie, I. R. & Vinicombe, K. E. 1995.
Lesser Short-toed Lark in Dorset: new to Britain. Brit. Birds 88:
593-599.
- Hume, R. A. & Parkin, D. T. 1995.
(Comments on "Grey-tailed Tattler in Wales: new to the Western
Palearctic" by R. I. Thorpe.) Brit. Birds 88: 255-262.
- Knox, A. G. 1995. [Vice-counties.] Newsacre
No. 5 p. 3.
- Knox, A. G. 1995. Birds behind bars: an
update. Birdwatch October p. 24.
- Knox, A. G. 1996. Pterodroma
taxonomy revisited. Birding World 8: 424.
- Knox, A. G. 1996. Grey-cheeked and
Bicknell's Thrushes: taxonomy, identification and the British and Irish
records. Brit. Birds 89: 1-9.
- Knox, A. G. 1996. The gene genie. Birdwatch
February p. 22.
- Knox, A. G. 1996. [Captive origin]. Birdwatch
February p. 65.
- Parkin, D. T. 1995. (Comments on "Swinhoe's
Storm-petrels at Tynemouth: new to Britain and Ireland" by M. G.
Cubitt.) Brit. Birds 88: 342-348.
- Parkin, D. T. 1995. (Comments on
"Lark Sparrow in Suffolk: new to the Western Palearctic" by T.
D. Charlton.) Brit. Birds 88: 395-400.
- Parkin, D. T. 1995. (Comments on
"Lesser Short-toed Lark in Dorset: new to Britain" by I. R.
Dickie & K. E. Vinicombe.) Brit. Birds 88: 593-599.
- Parkin, D. T. 1995. (Comments on
"Long-toed Stint in Cornwall: the first record for the Western
Palearctic" by P. D. Round.) Brit. Birds 89: 12-24.
- Parkin, D. T. 1996. (Comments on
"Eastern Phoebe in Devon: new to the Western Palearctic" by C.
McShane.) Brit. Birds 89: 103-107.
- Parkin, D. T. 1996. Opinion: British
Standard Birdwatch June p. 13.
Open Meeting of BOURC
at Cley, Norfolk
On Saturday 13th July 1996, the first Open
Meeting of the BOU Records Committee was held at Cley, Norfolk. The first
part of the meeting consisted of a report from BOURC on its methods and
working practices. After tea, a wide range of subjects were discussed in an
open forum. The following is a summary of some of the main point. Further
information about this meeting will be published elsewhere, or may be
obtained from the Chairman or Secretary at the Union Office.
Category C/D4: BOURC will
keep the birding public informed of developments in proposed revisions of
the criteria for categorising 'feral' birds.
Potential escapes:
Discussions will be held with BBRC over ways in which BBRC reports might
indicate the likelihood of individual rarities being escapes.
Speed of Circulation:
Discussions will be held with BBRC to alleviate the situation over certain
species that have been 'pending' with them for some time.
New Files: New files will be
opened and literature searches initiated as soon as a new bird is reported,
before the file arrives from BBRC, and 'fast-track' circulation will be set
up for less controversial species.
Progress Reports: BOURC will
add information on the progress of files to its published reports.
Taxonomy: Birders will be
kept informed of the latest developments through reports and articles.
Irish Records: A
wide-ranging discussion will be initiated into the merits of a joint list
for Britain and Ireland, and separate totals will be published for Britain
in all future Reports.
The Committee is grateful to Michael Rogers,
Secretary of the British Birds Rarities Committee, for assistance with the
preparation of files and advice over the deliberations of his Committee.
Thanks are also due to Patrick Smiddy, the retiring Secretary of Irish Rare
Birds Committee, for his assistance with several records. We welcome his
successor Paul Milne and look forward to working with him in the future.
We are very grateful to Per Alström, Richard
Banks, Christian Erard, Ian Evans, Rhys Green, Jay Hestbeck, Pierre Le Maréchal,
John Oates, Malcolm Ogilvie, Ken Parkes and Lars Svensson for help with
individual records, and a number of people (listed in Brit. Birds
89: 1-9) provided invaluable assistance with the investigations relating to
Grey-cheeked and Bicknell's Thrushes. We are also grateful to The Natural
History Museum, Tring for granting us access to skins and the library.
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